Drooling over disasters

It's part of human nature, however at times I think the media brings out the gawker side of us. I've been following the coverage of Hurricane Katrina, because I know people there and New Orleans is one of my favorite cities.

Thankfully I don't have cable, else I'd see on most of the news channels various reporters and those from the Weather Channel in places they really shouldn't be just so we can get our fix of what it is"really" like.

Yesterday the focus was on the total destruction of New Orleans, the whole "Atlantis" scenario. On the right side of the blogosphere they were slamming the Governor and the Mayor. On the left side of the blogosphere they were blaming Bush. Realistically only a small amount of blame is on either side. Anyone who doesn't realize that New Orleans is below sea level and the very levies built to protect the city also damaged millions of acres of wetlands that would have helped to diminish some of the possible damage hasn't been paying attention. This is nothing new. Those who are saying had it not been for the war in Iraq there would have been money spent to better prepare New Orleans are obviously living in a different country than I do. New Orleans has known as most coastal cities know it's not a matter of if but when. Other than moving the entire city there is not much that can be done to stop Mother Nature to prevent things like this. You can try to diminish the effects and have a sound evacuation plan but there is no magic cure to prevent hurricanes.

We've been told stories of graves opening up, "toxic gumbo" if the city floods then some stories trying to imply the roof was going to blow off of the Superdome dooming all of those inside. When the reports first started coming in that it looked like New Orleans was not facing the total destruction of a Category 5 Hurricane first predicted, it seemed like some of these reporters were almost disappointed. They were quick to add that there could still be "widespread damage".

I hope the Big Easy gets thru this, and that the loss of life is minimal. If there is one thing I do know about New Orleans, no matter what happens? They will rebuild.